Horizontally adjustable venetian blind



June 3, 1958 N. E. MOORE. JR

VENETIAN BLIND HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26,1956 INVENTOR. NATHAN EDWARD MOORE JR.

ATTORNEY June 3, 1958 N. E. MOORE. JR

. VENETIAN BLIND HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March26, 1956 FIG.7

INVENTOR. NAT HAN EDWARD MOOREJH ATTORNEY 7 2,837,152 HORIZONTALLYADJUSTABLE VENETIAN BLIND, Nathan Edward Moore, Jr., Greensboro, N. C,Application March 26, 1956, Serial No. 573,816

' Claims. (11. 160-168 The present invention relates to adjustableclosures of the multiple louver Venetian blind type' and relates moreparticularly to improvements in Venetian blinds in which the entireclosure may be adjusted widthwise within limits.

Normally louver closures of the Venetian blind type are custom built tospecific specificationsvboth in length and in width corresponding to thewindow or recess frame in which the blind will be suspended-Mismeasurement in oversizing blind widths necessitates time consumingmaterial removal from the ends of each blind slat. Also some materialmust be removed from the width of the tilt bar, the channel box and thebottom rail of each blind before the complete blind maybe mounted inplace.

In view of the manywindow widths, standard as well as special,customarily found in a single home or apartment, equipping all of thewindows entails blinds of various widths. Retail establishments desiringto merchandise Venetian blinds are obliged to invest in largeinventories in order to stock blinds of the many different widths so asto have them available for immediate sale.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is the provision of avwidth-adjustable Venetian blind which is freely extendable betweenlimits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Venetian blind in whichthe individual slats have overlapping portions which reachbetween'supporting ladder tapes and the slats are extendable widthwise.

Yet another object of the present invention is-the provision of anextensible Venetian blind in which each slat is compounded orarticulated with two slat portions that are slidably movable relative toeach other and supported between a pair of ladder tapes with a singleslat thickness extending beyond the end of each side of the blind and anoverlapping intermediate section of the slat portions between the tapeswith the inner end of each slat concealed behind opposite ladder tapes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a widthadjustable Venetian blind in which longitudinal manipulation of the topchannel will correspondingly vary the overall width of the tilt bar andthe ladder slat supporting tapes from which repositioning the individuallouver slats may be readily aligned.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of amultiple-tape Venetian blind suitable for expansion between extensivevarying widths.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a Venetianblind which is extensible in width with the individual louver membersextending at opposite ends in single thickness beyond supporting laddertapes with the other ends of the louver members fastened to transverseladder members and concealed by the ladder tapes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind that isextensible over a large expanse by utilizing a compound louver in whichthe individual United States Patent() 2 louver members have a singlethickness at the terminal ends of the blind and the intermediate portionbetween louver supporting tapes has a double thickness of the louver andthe length of the doublethickness portion will vary depending upon thewidth of opening on which the blind is suspended.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a variablewidth Venetian blind in which the intermediate portion of the blind isprovided with a double thickness of slat members suitably fastened toprevent objectionable slat sagging and so constructed as to conceal theoverlapping slats as much as possible.

Other and further objects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily apparent as the invention becomesbetter understood from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views andwherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, with. portions removed, illustrating oneform of an adjustable Venetian blind of the present invention employingthe use of a single pair of spaced louver supporting ladder tapes;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4am enlarged partial perspective views of a portion ofacompound slat with a ladder type illus trating various means forsecuring the compound slat for slidable size adjustment;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a compound slat and aslat keeper and aligning means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the tilt bar of Fig. '1 with aportion omitted;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view with portions removed illustrating amodified Venetian blind of the present inventionincorporating the use ofdouble ladder tapes for supporting compounded slats for increasedextensibility;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an adjustable tilt bar withportions removed illustrating the form of tilt bar employed in theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective .view illustrating one form of laddertape supporting drum.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1

there is broadly shown a widthadjustable louver enclosure 10, popularlyreferred to as a Venetian blind, in which the horizontal slats or louvermembers 11 are supported on the ladder tapes 12 and 13 that areindividually connected at thetop of the blind to the extensible tilt bar14 which is pivotally supported in the top extensible channel enclosure15 and at the bottom to the bottom rail member 16. Suitable slat raisingand lowering means areprovided for the slats in the form of the liftingcords 17 and lift locking mechanism 18. Tilting of the .individual slats11 to dispose the slats to the desired angular position is accomplishedby means of the pivotal action of the tilt bar 14 which is actuatedmanually through'the flexible tilt bar operating cords 19 and 2t) andthe tilt bar operating mechanism 21 mounted at the right end of V thetop channel in Fig. l. I

Each individual slat of the series forming the blind is constituted by acompound member formed with two elements; a left portion 23 and a rightportion 24, each of which portions has substantially identicalcross-sectional areas that are preferably arcuate to enable one slatelement to nest in overlapping relation within the other complementingportion. The lengths of the individual slat elements 23 and 24 areequal, and the slat element 23 extends from the right ladder tape 13 tothe left margin of the blind. The other slat element 24 of a compoundlouver slat extends from the left ladder tape 12 to the right margin ofthe blind. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, somewhat in exaggeratedform, the end or overhanging portions of each compound slat isconstituted bysingle thickness which extends beyond ladder tape membersor rungs or 26 which arefastener to and extend between the verticalreaches of each:

ladder tape 12 and 13. Obviously the rightsiat element 24. may. befastened at the left to the left tape transverse member 25- with theright portion ing tothe right margin of the blind. 23 will be fastenedto the right tape transverse member 26, below the right element24 andthe transverse member 25, with the left portion of the element 23-resting on the top of the left tape transverse element 26 and below thefastened end of the right securing each element of a compound slat in asimilar manner the slat elements may slide longitudinally over eachother in the intermediate portion with the fastened ends remainingvirtually concealed behind the ladder tapes. The slat sections may besupported against falling upon pivoting the tilt bar 14 to a suitableangle when the blind is closed by having the slat members constrainedfrom transverse displacement by either fastening the top right slatelement 24 at the left to the transverse member 25 as well as theconstraining action exerted by the transverse element 25 on top of theelement 24 at the right tape member 13.

Asthe greater portion of the Venetian blinds being sold are either madeof aluminum or a steel slat variety, the structure will be so describedas having either aluminum or steel slats, however, it is contemplatedthat with some insubstantial modifications the inventive concept may beequally applicable to'woodor plastic slats. One means for securing theinner ends of the slat members to a transverse tape member is to providea reverse bend 27 in the terminal end portion of the slat. This reversebend is preferably formed. in each individual slat either prior to orduring fabrication of the blind and a final crimping operation willsecurely fasten the to a transverse member such as 25. It will beapparent that this reverse bend is preferably formed to return above theslat portionfor the right element 24 and below for the left element 23inorder to permit the individualelements to be contiguous.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a modified means for fastening theindividual portions 23 and 24 to a transverse ladder member 25 byproviding the terminal portions of each slat element with a split tapefastening slot 29. The tape fastening slot is formed with openings and31 .spaced apart by the intermediate tabs 32 which are integrallyformed. in the slat so that each tab may beraised or lowered slightlytransversely to the slat to insert a transverse member 25 or 26 therein.It is preferred that the width of each of the openings 30 and 31 isslightly greater than the width members 25 and 26 transverse memberbetween the tabs 32 disengagement.

A further modified means for securing the slat por-' tions to thetransverse tape members 25 and 26. providing a suitable staple 35 whichmay be inserted to clamp a transverse tape member to an end of a slatmember as shown in Fig. 4. It has been found desirable in someapplications to employ the use of a metal clamp 36, shown more clearlyin transverse member connecting position in .orderto maintain theindividual slat mmebers in constantalignment without impairing theextensible'features of the members 23 and'24. The clamp 36 is providedwith a contour of the transverse tape in order to prevent an edgeof thefrom being alignedwith the split thereby eliminating possibilities ofappearing across 'thehorizontal of the slat passing. under, the righttape transverse member 25 and extend- The left element element 24. By

reverse bend Fig. 5 for-installation at each.

substantially similar to the slat cross-section with the terminal.portions 31 turned inwardly to engage the slat edges in order tomaintain slat alignment. Each clamp 36 may be made so as to fitconveniently on a transverse tape to facilitate installation of theclamps at convenient positions on each slat at the terminal portions soas to conceal the clamp from view behind the vertical reach of theladder tape.

The top ends of each vertical slat supporting ladder tape 12 and 13 areclamped to a supporting druni 4% that is mounted on one of thetelescoping rod sections 41 or 42 of the tilt bar 14. The tilt bar 14may be provided with-longitudinalkeyways 43 and 44 in the rod sections41 and 42, respectively, to receive and guide a supporting drum 49therein. Relative rotation of the rod sections is reduced due to thelocking connection between the base of the supporting drum 4% againstthe edges of the opening illzz'in the section 41. One end of the rodsection 41 is supportedwithin the opening 45 in the channel tiltibar'supporting plate tlfiand the other end of. the tilt bar section'42'issupported in the channel tilt bar supporting plate47 bymeans of thetilt bar operating mechanism 48 which may be of conventional form.Suitable fasteningmeans (not. shown) may be applied to thetilt bar'endsto prevent the tilt bar fronrheing separatedfrom the tilt. barsupporting plates 46 and 47.

As more clearly. depicted inFig. 6, the left tape securing' drum 4a is.mounted to through. the elongatedopening 49in the outer rod section 41.

portions slidable with each other with the section 153' slidablyreceivable into thersection 15b. Expansion or contraction of the tiltbar 14 may be correlated with ere pension and contraction of the channel15. The chat-1 nelbases 5l-are provided withspaced tape opcningsSZadjacent to the free end of each. channel. Additional spaced elongatedtape openings 53 are furnished adjacent to thetiltbar. supporting endsof 'the channels to allow for the. longitudinal movement of the tapes1?. and 13 as the blind is adjusted to the required width.

Upon adjusting the width of the blind the tape Band right drum 4t). willmove to the left with the tape 13 vwhich passes through. the opening 52being able to pass unobstructedthrough the elongatedopening 53 inmovement to the left. Similarly tape 12 and the left drum t!) maybemovedto the right with the tape 12 passing through opening 52 in-thechannel base 51 of section 15b: and the openings 53 in section 15a whichare elongated sufiiciently to'permit lateralmovenient of thetape 12 tothe right or left- The bottom rail member 16, constituted by the sections 16a and 16b, telescopes longitudinally making the rail adjustable.Ladder tapes 12 and 13 are secured about the bottom-of the rail with a.suitable fastening means'soas to permit the sections to telescope withineach other and also to permit the tapes to be displaced along thebottom-rail for alignment'with the ladder tape fastening drums 40mounted on the: tilt bar- 41 enabling the ladder tapes to bemaintainedinparallel relationship.

Raising and lowering the bottom rail 16 and the slats is accomplishedbymeans of the lifting cords 17 which reach through the conventional liftlocking means-18 and through-the guide pulley 65 supported in thechannel-plate 45"and extend to the guidemeans 56 and 57 that aresupported on the bottom part of the drums 40 on the tilt bar. Thelifting cords 17. extendin separate reaches to the bottom rail reachof.the ladder tapes 12. and Band. adjacent to one the inner rod section42 The. right tape securing drum 4%) is fastened. to the outer rodsection in spaced longitudinal relation 16'along the inner face ofthevertical verse tape members channel 84 by means of the end plates 83and edge of the slat members. By extending along the ladder tapesadjacent to the interior side it is possible to eliminate the necessityof nciching the individual slats. The cords 17 fit conveniently betweenthe splittransverse ladder members 25 and 26 which members restrict thevertical cord reaches from shifting laterally. The lower rail-engagingends of lift cord 17 are fastened to the bottom rail in the elongatedopenings 58 that are provided in the bottom rail to allow for thetelescopic action of the individual bottom rail sections 16a and 16bduring adjustment of the blind to a requisite width. A modification ofthe present invention appears in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein there isillustrated in Fig. 7 a Venetian blind capable of being expanded orcontracted between rather extensive widths. In this form the individualslats 70, compounded with two sections, a left section 71 and a rightsection 72 supply the requisite flexibility in width for the blind. Twopairs of ladder tapes 73, 74 and 75 and 76 are furnished to support theslat members in positon. The left slat section 71 is supported in aconventional manner at the left to project from the single transversetape member 77 and extends between the double transverse member 78 ontape 75 to be secured to'the bottom transverse member of the doubletransverse tape members 78 on the tape 74, under-the horizontal reach ofthe slat member 72. The slat 72 extends from right to left and issupportedon the ladder. tape 76 in the conventional manner to overhangto the right. Extending to the left, slat 72 overlaps the right portionof slat 71 and extends between the double trans- 78 on the tape 74 andis secured to the top double transverse tape member 78 on tape 75. Eachof the sections 71 and 72 is provided with a lift cord receiving slot 79through which the lift cords 80 may be passed so as to be fastened in aknown manner to the telescoping bottom rail member 81. A lift cordlocking device 82 through which the lifting cords 80 pass is supportedby the end plate 83 supported in the top box or channel 84. i

A tilt bar 85 is pivotably supported within the top 86. Tiltingmechanism 87 of conventional form is supported on the plate 86 foroperation by the tilting cords 88 which reach between the plates 83 and86 to pivot the tubular telescoping tilt bar 85. The outer sleeve member89 of the tilt bar is secured at the right end of the channel to plate83 and reaches a substantial distance toward plate 86. An intermediateportion 91 of the outer tube 89 is removed to expose the inner tube 90to which is connected the tape clamping drum 92 from which the laddertape 74 is suspended. Spaced axially from the tape clamping drum 92which is mounted on the inner tube 90 is a corresponding drum 93 that isfastened to the other sleeve member 89 to which is connected the laddertape 75. Two other tape supporting drums 94 and 95 are fastened adjacentto the ends of the telescoping tilt bar 85 with the drum 94 beingaffixed to the inner tube member 90 and drum 95 being affixed to theouter sleeve member 89. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 8 whichillustrates the left portion of the tilt bar 85 the drums 92 and 94 areillustrated as being affixed to the inner tube 90 and movable therewithin fixed axial relationship. Relative rotation of the sleeve member 89and tube member 90 is prevented in the manner as described above byconnection of the drum 92 to the inner member 90 through the opening inmember 89. i

The bases 96 of each of the top box channel portions 84a and 84b areprovided with elongated openings 97 through which the tapes 74 and 75may pass transversely during expansion or contraction of the topchannel. The individual channel sections are also provided withelongated openings 98 at each end through which the stationary tapes maypass.

To facilitate lifting of the bottom rail 81 and any number of the otherhorizontal slats, the lifting cords '80 are r the slat supportingelements,

The bottom rail 81 is supported to the blind by means of the laddertapes which are secured in'a suitable man- I ner to the bottom of therail member. The end tapes 73 and76 are securely fastened in position,with the tapes '74 and being free to be displaced relatively along thebase rail member.

In operation, for modifying the width of the blind it is only necessaryto expand the top channel 84 which in turn will elongate the tilt barwith the tape fastening drums 92 and 94 being displaced to the left onthe inner tube section and the drums 93 and on the outer sleeve member89 being displaced to the right. The distance between thetapes 74 and 75will be diminished as the tapes approach one another as the overallwidth of the blind is increased. It is this intermediate portion onlysuch as shown by the fastening openings are sub-.

stantially. the same as those shown and described for Fig. 2, however,other fastening means may be employed. When the Venetian blind topchannel is extended the bottom rail member 81 maybe telescoped outwardlyin order to expand the tapes at the bottom permitting the tapes to bearranged in parallel relation.

Obviously many modifications and variations may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the fasten ing means as well astheposition of the various tape clamping means on the tilt baras wellasmodifications made to the top channel box and the bottom rail in thelight of the above teachings without departing from the real purpose andspirit of this invention of expanding individual louver slat members. Itis, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appendedclaims many modified forms of the present inventive conceptas well asthe use of alternatives and mechanical equivalents may be reasonablyincluded and modifications are contemplated.

1 ported in the top channel, a pair of ladder tape clamping meansaxially spaced from each other on said tilting bar,

said clamping meansbeing movable toward each other as the top channel isextended, and away from each other as the channel is contractedlongitudinally, a pair of ladder tapes spaced apart and extending fromsaid clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes having doubletransverse slat supporting elements, an extensible bottom rail supportedat theother end of the tapes, a series of horizontal compound louverslat members supported on each of said slat members having one endreaching beyond a tape and one portion reaching between the pair oftapes, the slat reach extending between tapes forming an overlappingportion, each of said slat members of a single compound slat beingfastened adjacent to the other end to a transverse element on oppositetapes, in overlapping sliding relation, means for pivoting the tiltingbar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering thebottom rail and other slats in successive order upwardly from the bottomrail.

' channel is contracted-longitudinally,

2. An adjustable Venetianblind enclosure comprising a telescoping topchannel,-a telescopingtilt bar pivotally supported in said channel, saidtilt bar having sections slidable in each other, a pair of ladder tapeclamping rail supported at the other end of the tapes, a series ofhorizontal compound slat members supported on the slat supportingelements, each of said slat members having one end reaching beyond atape and one portion reaching between the pair of tapes, the slat reachextending between tapes forming an overlapping portion, each of saidslat members of a single compound slat being fastened adjacent to theother end to a transverse element opposite tapes, inoverlapping-relation, the end fastened to a transverse element beingconcealed by a ladder tape, means mounted on the channel for pivotingthe tilt bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and loweringthe bottom rail and other slats in successive order upwardly from thebottom rail.

3. An adjustable Venetian blind comprising a top channel, an extensibletilting bar pivotally supported in the channel, a pair of ladder tapeclamping means axially spaced from each other on said tilting bar, saidclamping means being movable toward each other as the tilting bar isextended, and away from eachother as the a ladder tape extending fromeach of said clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes havingtransverse slat supporting elements, a bottom rail supported at theother end of the ladder tapes, a series of horizontal compound slatssupported on the slat supporting elements, each of said slats having oneend reaching beyond a ladder tape and one portion reaching between thepair of ladder tapes, the slat reach extending between tapes forming adouble slat thickness, each of said slats of a slat being fastenedadacent to the other end to a transverse element on opposite tapes, inoverlapping sliding relation, means mounted in the channel for pivotingthe tilting bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising andlowering the bottomrail and other slats in successive order.

4. An adjustable Venetian blind comprising an extensible top channel, anextensible tilting bar pivotally supported in the channel, an extensiblebottom rail, a pair of vertically reaching ladder tapes laterally spacedfrom each other, said tapes having vertically spaced slat supportingtransverse members fastened to the tapes, said tapes connected at oneend to the tilt bar and at the other end to the bottom rail, a series ofarticulated slats supported on the transverse members, each articulatedslat reaching from one tape laterally beyond the opposite tape, thereach between tapes having overlapping slat portions and a single slatthickness extending beyond each tape, means for pivoting the tiltingbar, and lifting means for raising and lowering the bottom rail and thelouver slats.

5. A widthwise adjustable Venetian blind comprising a telescoping topenclosure, a telescoping tilting bar mounted for pivotal movement in thetop enclosure and extensible therewith, a telescoping bottom rail,spaced apart vertically reaching ladder tapes extending between the tiltbar and the bottom rail and fastened thereto, tape fastening means onthe tilt bar receiving one end of the tapes, the other end of the tapesbeing fastened to support the bottom rail, each of said tapes havingvertically spaced transverse members, a series of horizontalcompound'slat members spaced vertically on the single compound .bar forpivoting the bar, and means lowering the bottom rail and the slatmembers in transverse tape members, members having two portions, each ofsaid slat portions reaching: only a portion of blind overall width, anopposite end of each slat portion fastened to a transverse member, theslat reach between tapes having a double thickness constituted by thetwo slat portions and an end of each slat portion projecting with asingle thickness at one end beyond a ladder tape, said slats beingslidable relative to each other as the ladder tapes are separated orbrought closer together.

6. A Venetian blind comprising an extensible head channeha telescopingtilting bar in said channel supported for oscillatory movement, meansconnected to the tilting bar for oscillating the bar, spaced apartladder tapes each having connecting rungs, said tapes bein connected forsuspension from the tilting bar, a series of vertically memberssupported on the rungs, each of-said slat members being articulated withat least two slat reaches, reach extending between the one portion ofeach slat spaced apart tapes in overlapping relation and the other reachof each slat extending beyond a tape to form an overhanging end portion,one end of each slat being fastened to a tape rung, a telescoping bottomrail, said bottom rail being. connected to the other end of the tapes,and lifting cord means extending from the tilting bar to thebottom railbetween a tape and an edge of the slat members whereby the head channel,slat members and bottom rail may be adjusted between limits to a rangeof widths.

7. A Venetian blind of the character described comprising alongitudinally adjustable top channel, a tilting bar mounted in thechannel for pivotal movement, said tilting bar having telescopingsections, spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slat supportingmembers, at least one tape being suspended from each of the tilting barsections whereby upon extension of the channel said tilting bar iscorrespondinglyextended reducing the lateral spacing between at leasttwo ladder tapes, a series of horizontal slat members supported on thetransverse slat members, each of said slats having two sections, each ofsaid sections reaching between a pair of spaced apart tapes andextending at opposite ends beyond one tape at one slat end and the otherslat end fastened to a transverse member of the opposite tape, anadjustable bottom rail connected to the lower ends of the ladder tapes,means connected with the tilting for raising, and

sequence.

8. in combination with a Venetian blind head channel and a bottomrail,bar mounted in said channel and supported for pivotal movement, spacedapart ladder tapes each having transverse members, said tapes beingsuspended from having a the tilting bar, a series of vertically spacedapart slat t members supported on the ladder tape transverse members,each of said least two slat reaches,-one portion of each slat reachextending betweenthe spaced apart tapes in overlappingv relation, andthe other reach of each slat extending beyond a tape to form anoverhanging end portion, one end of each tape being fastened to atransverse member concealing theend behind a tape, the bottom rail beingsuspended by the other end of the tapes, and lifting cord meansextending from the tilting bar to the bottom rail between a tape and anedge of the slats whereby the slats may be adjusted between limits to arange of widths.

9. For use in combination with a Venetian blind having atop channel, atilting bar and a 'tilting'b'ar mechanism, and means for raising andloweringthe blind, a pair of spaced apart ladder tapes having.transverse slat supporting members, series of compound slat memberssupported in vertical spaced relation on the,

each of said compound slat spaced apart compound slata telescopingtilting slats being compounded with at overhanging reach slat supportingmembers, each of said slat members having two sections, each of saidsections reach at least between the pair of spaced apart tapes and eachsection extending at one end beyond opposite tapes, and the other slatend fastened to a transverse member of the opposite tape.

10. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination with a top channel box,a tilting bar and tilting bar mechanism supported in the channel box, abottom rail member, and spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slatsupporting members, a series of horizontal compound slats supported onthe ladder tapes, each of the compound slats having two sections, eachof said sections overlapping each other only between the spaced apartladder tapes, one end of each slat section being attached to oppositeladder tapes, and the other end of each slat section extending beyondthe opposite ladder tape to which the first slat end is attached. 11. AVenetian blind comprising, in combination with a telescoping tilting barand tilting mechanism, spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slatsupporting elements, compoundslats supported on the transverse slatsupporting elements in spaced vertical relationship, each of saidcompound slats having two sections, each of said sections having aninner and an extending portion, the inner slat portions of each compoundslat overlapping between the spaced apart ladder tapes, and theextending portions of each compound slat reaching beyond opposite laddertapes.

12. For. use in combination with an adjustable Venetian blind having achannel box, a tilting bar and tilting mechanism mounted on the channelbox, a bottom rail member, and ladder tapes reaching between the tiltingbar and the bottom rail, said tapes having slat supporting elementsspaced vertically, a compound slat supported on each of the slatsupporting elements, said compound slat having two sections, each ofsaid sections having a supported reach extending between said laddertapes and an overhanging reach extending beyond opposite tapes'for eachslat.

1-3. In combination with an adjustable Venetian blind having a channelbox, blind tilting means and blind raising and lowering means mounted inthe'channel box, an adjustable tilting bar provided with telescopinginner and outer sections, spaced apart ladder tapes mounted onthetilting bar for movement in response to the movement of the tiltingbar, said ladder tapes having slat supporting elements, compound slatssupported on each of the slat supporting elements, each of said compoundslats having two sections, each of said sections having a supportedreach extending between said ladder tapes and an extending beyondopposite tapes for each slat.

14. In an adjustable Venetian blind, a longitudinally extensibletelescoping channel box, a telescoping tilting bar extensible inresponse to longitudinal movement of the channel box, ladder tapesextending from the tilting 'bar in spaced relation and displaceablelaterally in response to longitudinal movement of the tilting bar, and aseries of compound slats supported on the ladder tapes in verticalspaced relation, said compound slats being formed of two sections, aportion of each section reach ing between the ladder tapes forming adouble overlapping slat thickness and the other portion of each sectionprojecting beyond the ladder tapes at one end, the other end of eachslat section being fastened to a ladder tape whereby upon longitudinalmovement of the tilting bar the tapes and compound slats may be alignedaccordingly.

15. An adjustable louver enclosure comprising an extensible top channel,an extensible tilting bar pivotally supported to the top channel, twopairs of ladder tape clamping means axially spaced from each other onsaid tilting bar one of said clamping means of each pair being movabletoward each other as the top channel and tilting bar is extended, andaway from each other as the channel is contracted longitudinally, theother clamping means being movable in the direction of the channelexpansion or contraction, ladder tapes spaced apart and extending fromeach of said clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes having slatsupporting elements, an extensible bottom rail supported at the otherend of the tapes, a series of horizontal compound louver slats supportedon the slat supporting elements, each of said slats having one endreaching beyond a tape fastened to one end of the other clamping means,and one portion reaching between the pair of tapes fastened to theclamping means movable toward or away from each other as the channel isextended or contracted, the slat reach extendbetween tapes forming anoverlapping portion, each a single compound slat being ing of said slatportions 1 f fastened adjacent to the on the oppositely movable tapes,in overlapping sliding relation, means for pivoting the tilting bar andtape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering the bottom railand slats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS otherend to a transverse element-

